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The Book of Harlan
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During World War II, two African American musicians are captured by the Nazis in Paris and imprisoned at the Buchenwald concentration camp.
The Book of Harlan opens with the courtship of Harlan’s parents and his 1917 birth in Macon, Georgia. After his prominent minister grandfather dies, Harlan and his parents move to Harlem, where he becomes a musician. Soon, Harlan and hi ...more
The Book of Harlan opens with the courtship of Harlan’s parents and his 1917 birth in Macon, Georgia. After his prominent minister grandfather dies, Harlan and his parents move to Harlem, where he becomes a musician. Soon, Harlan and hi ...more
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Bernice McFadden
The Brown Shoes represents Harlan's guardian angel - his grandfather.
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Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
I give 3.8 stars to The Book of Harlan, Bernice McFadden's newest book which details the life of her grandfather Harlan McFadden. I completed this book that read quickly over the course of a day. McFadden shares the ups and downs of Harlan's life and shares what it meant to be African American in the first half of the 20th century. Here is Harlan's story.
Harlan was born on December 24, 1917 to Sam and Chappo McFadden (depicted in this book as Sam and Emma Elliot). The Elliots determined to make ...more
Harlan was born on December 24, 1917 to Sam and Chappo McFadden (depicted in this book as Sam and Emma Elliot). The Elliots determined to make ...more
4.5 stars!! I had to take off half a point because of the ending which, without giving away anything, is contrary to what actually happened to an important Nazi figure. I don't care for revisionist history unless it's in a speculative work. Although, in retrospect, it could have just been the protagonist's reality.
Bernice McFadden has written an epic novel about African-American life from the early 1900s to 1973. Apparently the novel is partly biographical, the main character being based on her ...more
Bernice McFadden has written an epic novel about African-American life from the early 1900s to 1973. Apparently the novel is partly biographical, the main character being based on her ...more
I enjoyed reading this book very much. I loved it. There is so much to love in these pages, and so much attention to history. There is a loving attention to characters and their foibles that I found very endearing. I cared a lot about these people. The story resolved itself in an ending that, although completely implausible, was entirely satisfying. It was that kind of story--a story where I loved the characters and wanted good things to happen to them. The book is much more about heart than hea
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I was over half way through this book before settling in, which makes it hard to rate. The only reason I didn't quit the book is because several of my trusted reviewers gave it 4 and 5 stars. I'm glad I stuck with it because I really started to like it around page 195 and at page 278 I started to love it. Problem with that is the book is only 342 pages.
Even before I started to really enjoy the read, I wasn't oblivious to all the wonderful historical tidbits sprinkled through each chapter. As wi ...more
Even before I started to really enjoy the read, I wasn't oblivious to all the wonderful historical tidbits sprinkled through each chapter. As wi ...more
Author: Bernice McFadden
Print Length: 354 pages (Kindle); 400 pages (hardcover)
Publisher: Akashic Books; Reprint edition (April 11, 2016)
Publication Date: April 11, 2016
"The thing worse than rebellion is the thing that causes rebellion." --Frederick Douglass (printed in The Book of Harlan, page 281, Kindle)
There are rare literary moments when a reader is given a gift so magnificent that it defies adequate definition; when Seshat embraces and guides the writer's pen and thoughts, leading them thr ...more
Print Length: 354 pages (Kindle); 400 pages (hardcover)
Publisher: Akashic Books; Reprint edition (April 11, 2016)
Publication Date: April 11, 2016
"The thing worse than rebellion is the thing that causes rebellion." --Frederick Douglass (printed in The Book of Harlan, page 281, Kindle)
There are rare literary moments when a reader is given a gift so magnificent that it defies adequate definition; when Seshat embraces and guides the writer's pen and thoughts, leading them thr ...more
Although The Book of Harlan is about the life and experiences of Harlan, there are many other vignettes throughout the book that focus on the lives of other characters. I am very thankful for that because the other stories are what actually saved the overall story for me. I did not like Harlan at all. He was a selfish, misogynistic, womanizer who was careless with his words and actions. His selfishness extended to his parents, friends, and lovers alike. I did feel sorry for Harlan, because he su
...more
Aug 07, 2015
Didi
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Lovers of quality stories written by African-American Women Writers
Shelves:
2016-big-book-challenge
Here's my video review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWX-_...
Σε βάζει να ζήσεις το πρώτο μέρος . Τζαζ, ζωή κ Άγιος ο Θεός κ γουστάρουμε. Μετά την πρώτη περίοδο στο στρατόπεδο συγκέντρωσης , απλά κόβει λάσπη και το πάει διαδικαστικά σχεδόν μέχρι το τέλος, με ελάχιστες εκλάμψεις.
Jazz κ μετριότητα όμως αντιφάσκουν, οπότε stick to that
Jazz κ μετριότητα όμως αντιφάσκουν, οπότε stick to that
I received this book as an early reviewer copy. I am glad that I was given the opportunity to read it. This is a remarkable story of a man who was born in 1917 - lived through the Roaring 20's, the Great Depression, World War II and the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King. All the tumult that occurs in the world during this time is reflected in the life of Harlan Elliot. Harlan was born in Macon Georgia and spent his early life there with his grandparents. When Harlan's moth
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ABSOLUTELY STUNNING! To say this is a "must read" is an understatement. Prepare yourself for a magical journey as McFadden catapults you into the life of Harlan. The short and impactful chapters kept me captivated as I devoured each page. McFadden's writing style grabs you instantly and she never lets you go. She exposes life and it's circumstances in a humanly raw magnitude that any reader can relate to.
You are transported back in time and deposited into monumental eras of history. McFadden's ...more
You are transported back in time and deposited into monumental eras of history. McFadden's ...more
3.5-4 stars. This was a quick read. I found the author's style to be engaging and the story to be compelling. Bernice McFadden tells a fictionalized version of her grandfather Harlan's life, from his parents' meeting to Harlan's middle age. The author describes Harlem in the years before WWII and Harlan and his family's life there, and how Harlan ended up in France, and most frightening, how he ended up in Buchenwald concentration camp in Germany. Though the author doesn't get into detail of the
...more
To me, the essence of all books is the characters. If you like a character, you find a way to like the book. McFadden does something quite difficult, here. She writes characters that are unlikable, flawed and who act badly, but yet she imbues than with so much humanity that the reader can’t help but root for them.
For most of the book, McFadden does a great job of interweaving historical fact with fiction. For some reason, there was a chapter where McFadden listed a bunch of historical events. T ...more
For most of the book, McFadden does a great job of interweaving historical fact with fiction. For some reason, there was a chapter where McFadden listed a bunch of historical events. T ...more
This book is based on the author's paternal grandfather. The following is to be found on the author's web site:
The Book of Harlan was inspired by the life of my paternal grandfather; Harold Isaac McFadden (pictured on the cover).
I never personally knew the man and neither did my father. All I had to recreate his life were a birth certificate, census schedules, a few newspaper articles and my imagination.
In many ways, this book is the culmination of twenty years of family history research.
From t ...more
The Book of Harlan was inspired by the life of my paternal grandfather; Harold Isaac McFadden (pictured on the cover).
I never personally knew the man and neither did my father. All I had to recreate his life were a birth certificate, census schedules, a few newspaper articles and my imagination.
In many ways, this book is the culmination of twenty years of family history research.
From t ...more
4.5 stars. I'm deducting a half point because I feel too large a time period was crammed into these pages. I would have preferred a bit more detail in some of the story-telling especially closer to the end although perhaps that would have detracted from the steam-roller effect. But that aside, this is one powerful and emotionally draining story that I had to put down to breath every now and then. There are quite a few events in the book that sent me sprawling, left me depleted. The phrase "packs
...more
It's hard to know what to say about this book, because it is so rich and compelling. It is one man's tragic, epic life, and an unflinching, raw look at how trauma haunts survivors. Harlan's post-liberation life didn't follow the redemptive narrative I expected, and the book is richer for it. This was the first Bernice McFadden book I have read; it won't be the last.
Wow. I almost quit this book but I am glad I didn’t. This book is really touched my soul. I have never given much thought to black people in the context of World War II period as most of the narrative revolves around the Jewish Experience. This is the most detailed accounting I’ve personally read about a real black person captured and sent to a concentration camp.
Harlan Elliot grew up in that 1920’s period where music was going through a revolution. Harlan, his best friend Leo “Lizard” Rubenstei ...more
Harlan Elliot grew up in that 1920’s period where music was going through a revolution. Harlan, his best friend Leo “Lizard” Rubenstei ...more
Feb 15, 2016
Joy Wright
added it
She has done it again! I have read 7 of McFadden's 15 novels and every time I finish one, I sit in awe of her gift. The Book of Harlan is a book that takes the reader through the history (roughly 57 years) of not only a man but also Black culture. From Macon, Georgia to New York City, to France, to Germany, and back to the States, the reader is thrust into the life of Harlan will have a difficult time pulling away from all that happens in this 342 page novel. Now my charge is to read the rest of
...more
3.5*
Quick reading (however, this month I was very busy, so it took some time to finish this book).
I loved that the chapters were short and that the author focused on the action rather than the tiny details. On the other hand, one may criticize this rushed tempo for being superficial and glancing over horrific historical events (segregation in the South, Buchenwald concentration camp, the rising crime rate of Harlem).
This novel really packs on a lot of material. Harlan Elliot is the son of two b ...more
Quick reading (however, this month I was very busy, so it took some time to finish this book).
I loved that the chapters were short and that the author focused on the action rather than the tiny details. On the other hand, one may criticize this rushed tempo for being superficial and glancing over horrific historical events (segregation in the South, Buchenwald concentration camp, the rising crime rate of Harlem).
This novel really packs on a lot of material. Harlan Elliot is the son of two b ...more
Wow! I will first say that I don't read much historical fiction at all. The Book of Harlan was amazing to me. I love how McFadden wove this story together. I loved all the characters in this book but Lizard was my favorite. The themes in this book are remarkable! I'm looking forward to passing this book on to my son who loves historical fiction. Definitely looking forward to discussing this with my book group at brunch today!
I have said this before, but it bears repeating. The publishing of any Bernice McFadden book is an event, not simply another book being released. She has done it again with this excellent novel. The Book of Harlan can be described as a historical novel, but that description doesn't really do it justice, because it is much more than just historical. She uses very short chapters to great effect, it certainly helps the feel of the book as a fast paced page turner.
Bernice's prose as usual is imperia ...more
Bernice's prose as usual is imperia ...more
This is my first McFadden, it sure will not be my last. What a voice! I started laughing at the blunt open way she faces some delicate issues and kept chuckling along to the middle of the book. As Ms. McFadden describes the life of the family of Harlan; she gives all readers insight to what is personal and public in their lives beginning 1915, and quickly moving forward to 1917 Macon Georgia where Harlan is born. The chapters are short, and that makes it easy to finish a chapter before going to
...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Mar 10, 2016
Shomeret
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-fiction,
my-reviews
I thought I knew what I'd be getting with The Book of Harlan by Bernice L. McFadden, and in some ways I was right, but in others I was wrong. Yes, this is a novel about an African American musician who is sent to a concentration camp by the Nazis. It's also about a number of other significant issues. When a book attempts to address so much, can it be successful? My feeling is that some aspects of The Book of Harlan were more successful than others.
The portrayal of Harlan was the best thing about ...more
The portrayal of Harlan was the best thing about ...more
I received this book for review from Goodreads and Akashic Books, in exchange for an honest review.
"On the outside, Emma didn't seem to want from anything, but let's be clear-she was starving on the inside. Not the coal-burning-belly type of hunger of the destitute, but he agonizing longing of a free spirit, caged."
This book is the story of many people, not just Harlan, it just so happens that all those other people are connected to him in some shape or form. His parents, best friends, lovers, ...more
"On the outside, Emma didn't seem to want from anything, but let's be clear-she was starving on the inside. Not the coal-burning-belly type of hunger of the destitute, but he agonizing longing of a free spirit, caged."
This book is the story of many people, not just Harlan, it just so happens that all those other people are connected to him in some shape or form. His parents, best friends, lovers, ...more
Can we say six stars? This is Bernice L. McFadden's best book ever! Her prose is stunning, gliding over an epic of horrific proportions.
We meet Harlan's parents Sam Elliot, and Emma Robinson before he was conceived, while Emma was too innocent to protect herself. But they did the best they could, leaving Harlan with his doting grandmother while the young couple goes off seeking their fortune from Macon to Louisville to Michigan, returning home to Macon when Emma's father Tenant Robinson dies. W ...more
We meet Harlan's parents Sam Elliot, and Emma Robinson before he was conceived, while Emma was too innocent to protect herself. But they did the best they could, leaving Harlan with his doting grandmother while the young couple goes off seeking their fortune from Macon to Louisville to Michigan, returning home to Macon when Emma's father Tenant Robinson dies. W ...more
This book snuck up on me. For the first half I thought it a pleasantly light trifle that couldn't make up its mind what kind of story it was. At first I thought it was a snapshot of a young lower-middle-class black couple raising a sensitive young boy named Harlan in Macon, Georgia, in the 1920s. Then after a setting change, a Jazz-Age Harlem bildungsroman. Then a freewheeling reefer travelogue as Harlan the jazz musician gigs across France. Then, unexpectedly and startlingly, a grim concentrati
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** I won a copy of this novel in a Goodreads giveaway.**
Simply put, Bernice McFadden is a master storyteller and there is not a book of hers that exists that I don't absolutely love. "The Book of Harlan" is no exception.
As an amateur genealogist, the fact that this novel is based on Bernice's actual ancestors is especially meaningful to me. I also learned that Black people were also victims of the Holocaust and now I have a new subject to research/learn more about.
Finally I love that Bernice co ...more
Simply put, Bernice McFadden is a master storyteller and there is not a book of hers that exists that I don't absolutely love. "The Book of Harlan" is no exception.
As an amateur genealogist, the fact that this novel is based on Bernice's actual ancestors is especially meaningful to me. I also learned that Black people were also victims of the Holocaust and now I have a new subject to research/learn more about.
Finally I love that Bernice co ...more
The Book of Harlan is an excellent book that chronicles the life of the title character: from his humble birth in Macon, Ga to his upbringing in Harlem, NY and beyond. It also provides a picture of life in a WWII concentration camp and how challenging circumstances can make us stronger. I was on an emotional roller coaster while reading this book and when I finished, I was ready to take another ride. Read this book...it is one of the best books I've ever read. It will have you thinking about the
...more
I like so many of the set pieces of this book, bursts of a moment from the lives of Harlan & those he interacted with. It was hard to string everything together in a propulsive narrative, which is unusual to me in a book with such short chapters. It was more like flipping through a photo album and making up a story to go with each picture, than reading a novel. But I was engaged with analyzing and understanding the style when I wasn't as gripped by the narrative. A solid read.
Captivating... McFadden's prose is pristine. Her characters are so memorable and so beautifully human that their passage across the novel's pages feels like both celebration and loss. Excellent.
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| Go On Girl! Book...: About the Book | 4 | 4 | May 03, 2018 08:57AM | |
| Go On Girl! Book...: What Did You Think of the Book | 1 | 2 | Apr 08, 2018 01:30PM | |
| Go On Girl! Book...: About Bernice McFadden | 2 | 2 | Apr 01, 2018 09:59AM | |
| Play Book Tag: The Book of Harlan/Bernice L McFadden - 4 stars | 1 | 10 | Aug 31, 2016 08:54PM | |
Tournament of Books:
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| Goodreads Librari...: page number request | 3 | 20 | May 15, 2016 07:13PM | |
| African-American ...: Bernice McFadden's Newest Novel Coming Soon!!! | 8 | 34 | Jan 11, 2016 01:40PM |
BERNICE L. McFADDEN is the author of The Book of Harlan (winner of the 2017 American Book Award and the 2017 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work) This in addition to eight other critically acclaimed novels including Sugar, Loving Donovan, Gathering of Waters (a New York Times Editors’ Choice and one of the 100 Notable Books of 2012), Glorious, which was featured in O, The Oprah Magazin
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“Prison had a way of draining people of their hope and humanity. But Harlan didn't have to worry about that because he'd gone in empty.”
—
2 likes
“To Harlan, New York City was as chaotic and thrilling as the three-ringed circus that came through Macon each spring.
No matter which direction his head spun, there was something new and exciting to behold: white men with long beards and black hats as tall as chimney stacks; poor people begging for money; rich people walking white poodles tethered to long leather leads; blind people tapping walking sticks; fat people munching soft, salted pretzels; and middle-of-the-road people like themselves.”
—
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More quotes…
No matter which direction his head spun, there was something new and exciting to behold: white men with long beards and black hats as tall as chimney stacks; poor people begging for money; rich people walking white poodles tethered to long leather leads; blind people tapping walking sticks; fat people munching soft, salted pretzels; and middle-of-the-road people like themselves.”
